ACC poll reactions, Week 8

This week's polls have been released. Here's how the ACC fared, from the top of the polls to the bottom, and what it means.

(AP/Coaches)

6/6. Clemson

Head coach Dabo Swinney told reporters he made it very clear to his team at halftime (as they led North Carolina 24-17) that they needed to decide right there whether or not they wanted to be 8-0. The Tigers answered his query with a 35-point third quarter performance as they kickstarted the shootout in Death Valley to put the Tar Heels away. Tajh Boyd was able to rest for much of the fourth quarter, after throwing for 367 yards and five touchdowns to five different receivers.

Clemson's offense hasn't shown the ability to be stopped for four quarters. Several teams have limited the Tigers from hitting a rhythm for a quarter or half, but no one has had an answer for their explosiveness over 60 minutes. One team that can control the pace of the game is Georgia Tech, who await the Tigers arrival in Atlanta on Saturday. The game will be under the lights, and the Yellow Jackets need a win after dropping two straight. It is arguably Clemson's toughest game left on the schedule, as the Tigers are now one of eight unbeaten teams remaining in FBS play.

15/15. Virginia Tech

After two impressive performances that launched them back up the polls, the Hokies sputtered in the first half against lowly Boston College. But after trailing 7-6 at half, Virginia Tech got rolling and outscored the Eagles 24-7 in the second half. David Wilson continued to be a workhorse out of the backfield, carrying 17 times for 134 yards. The second half rout is also a credit to the defense, which despite missing several playmakers due to injury was able to come up with two second half turnovers.

With Georgia Tech's second straight conference loss, the Hokies now sit alone on top of the ACC Coastal Division standings. But any repeated performances like the first half against Boston College might end up hurting their hopes of defending their ACC championship in Charlotte. The four remaining games on Virginia Tech's schedule are all division opponents, two Thursday night games, and three games on the road. Their resiliency on Saturday at home was commendable, but Hokie fans would prefer not needing to feel that nervous again.

Others receiving votes: Georgia Tech's name reappears in this category after falling from No. 12 over the last two weeks. Miami also saw some decent action from the voters, after defeating the previously-ranked Yellow Jackets for their second straight conference win. Wake Forest also received some votes in the Coaches Poll. No offense to Jim Grobe and the Demon Deacons, but I'd guess those Coaches/SIDs did not watch the 24-23 barn burner at Duke on Saturday.

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